Saturday, March 24, 2012

I think that it is very fitting that on the 23rd anniversary of one of the worst environmental disasters in history I see a news story that the Exxon Valdez has been sold for scrap, and on the same day I get a notice from Exxon that I can save 15 cents a gallon using my Speedpass. Go to https://www.speedpass.com

For the most part, Speedpass is a very cool way to pay for your fuel at an Exxon station. You simply wave the little wand across a special scan pad, and you are pretty much done. The Speedpass is tied to the credit card you registered, and usually there are little additional savings benefits. However, until May 31 you'll get 15 cents off a gallon, up to 150 gallons. I'll do that while I load up to use my Kroger fuel credit.

Back to the Valdez. For twenty years I did not buy Exxon in protest because of this tragedy, and I am sure that Exxon missed my business. According to news files, "The tanker ran aground at Alaska's Bligh Reef on March 24, 1989, and spewed 11 million gallons of crude oil into the rich fishing waters of Prince William Sound."Additionally "Scott Pegau, who (currently) manages research efforts of the Oil Spill Recovery Institute in Cordova, said boats there would historically be gearing up for herring season this time of year.

Because the herring population has yet to rebound to a fishable level, the town now primarily fishes salmon, which comes into season late in April. Otters, sea ducks and a killer whale pod are also still impacted by the spill, he said." So the tragedy continues.

AP reported that "in the years since (the disaster), the ship has been rebranded a few times with different names. It is now called the Oriental Nicety.

Though widely reported as purchased by a Baltimore-based company, Hong Kong-based Best Oasis Ltd. actually bought the ship recently for an undisclosed price.

Best Oasis is a wholly owned subsidiary of Priya Blue Industries in the western Indian state of Gujarat.

Company spokesman Gauray Mehta confirmed the purchase to The Associated Press on Friday, but he said he "can give no details till we take delivery of it."

The company would not disclose the purpose of its purchase, but it buys old ships solely to dismantle them, reuse salvageable material and discard the rest."